Center stop and outside lock-off for electrical switches



B. D. HORTGN.

CENTER STOP' AND OUTSIDE LOCK OFF FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. 1918.

Patented July 5, 1921.

4UNITED STATES l BRYsoiv n. Hon'roN, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CENTER STOP AND OUTSIDE LOCK-OFF FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 192i.

AApplication filed June 26, 1918. Serial No. 241,945.

To @ZZ 107mm it may concer-n:

Be it known that I, BRYsoN HoirroN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, and State of.

Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Center Stopsand Outside Lock-Offs for Electrical Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and concise description.

My invention relates to center stop and outside` lock ofi"y mechanism for electrical switches and is particularly related to inclosed electrical switches.

One of the objects of this invention is to design a device of the above character which may be readily attached to the outside of the casing of an inclosed electrical switch.

A further object of this device is to design a center l,stopV which willtemporarily retain a double* throwpswitch in central or neutral position.

A Vfurther object of this device is to provide means whereby inv a doubley throw switch a rapid continuous motion from one i extreme limit of its stroke to the other is assured and that all otherkmotions are normally prevented.

A further object of this invention is to provide a center stop which though tempprarily retaining the double throw yswitch in neutral position may be readily manually released.

A furtherV object of this invention is to vso design a device that it is adapted-to operate as an outside lock off to permanently lock a switch in olf position when so desired.

A further object of this invention is to design a device which incorporates in one structure all the functions enumerated above.

A further object of this invention is to design a very simple and practically fool proof structure which is sure in its operation and of a very rugged character.

One ofthe many possible forms which this invention may take is shown in the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 shows a side view of a double throw quick break switch and casing with lthe center stop and outside lock oli shown in engagement with the operating member of `the switch. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the ,outside lock oil and center stop in the position shown in Fig, 1 and shows in dotted lines a portion of the locking member out of engagement and also turned completely out of the way ofthe operating member of the switch.

Referring in `detail to the drawings 1 indicates the casing of the electrical switch to which applicants center stop and lock off is attached. The switch is operated by means .of an operating member 2 which is pivotally mounted in the casing and the switch mechanism includes stationary contacts 3 and movable contacts 4, and is of the double'throw quick break type. This switch is similar in all respects to the switch described and shown in application Serial No. 2-ll2,08l,'

filed by me on June 17, 1918. Only so much of the switch is shown here as would indicate that this switch is of the double throw quick break type.

The center stop and outside lock off mechanism comprises a fixed plate 5, which is fastened by means of screws or other suitable fastening means G to theA exterior of the casing. This fixed plate has liingedly connected thereto a movable plate 7. hinged mechanism is shown atk 16. This movable plate 7 is held down by means of suitable springs 9 which are fastened at their lower end to the casing as shown, or may be fastened to the fixed plate 5. The upper ends of these springs are fastened to `the movable plate 7 and serve to hold such movable plate 7 down in engagement with the stop 10. This movable plate 7 is provided with a central notch 8 adapted to receive the operating member 2 when in neutral position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

Attentionis called to the fact that the dotted linesin Fig. 1 show the switch out of neutral position and occupying an intermediate position between neutral and one of yits closed positions.

Pivotally mounted on the movable plate 7 is a lockinginember 11, which is provided with applurality of openings 12 which are alined with similar openings 13 on the movable plate 7, `when this locking means is in a position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. When these openings are in alinement `they are adapted to receiveV the bail portion of a padlock or similar locking means, and it will be seen that the notch 14 in this auxiliary member 11 alines with the notch 8 in the movable plate 7 and serves to lock the The CIK

movable plate 7 in engagement with the operating member 2 ol' the switch, when this device functions as an outside lock oft'. 1When this auxiliary member is not in use, .it is turned around in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the notch let then alines with the opening l5 in the movable plate T, and the padlock may then be passed thrmigh such opening l5 and notch Ylll and retain this member out oi the path o'lE movement oli the operating member of the switch. However, the ilrictional engagement between the plate 7 and the auxiliary member il may be such that this locking of the auxiliaryY member in inactive position will not he necessary.

The operation ol this device is as lol lows Then it is functioning as a center stop for the double throw switch which is desirable in quick break double throw switches, the operating member 2 oit the switch li'lts the plate 7 upwardly until it comes adjacent the notch 8 whereupon the plate 7 snaps downwardly through the action oi the springs 9 and retains this operating member 2 in neutral position, as shown in Fig. l..

This device is also capable and designed to operate as a means ot insuring a quick continuous motion oi' the switch from one extreme limit to the other extreme limit as for example is necessary7 in certain types of electrical work, such as motor starting. Under this condition when the operating member 2 is rapidly moved from one extreme position toward the other extreme po- `sition it suddenly raises the plate '7 and the momentum thereby acquired by the plate 7 serves to hold the notch 8 out of the path or" motion of the operating member 2 during the brief period ol its passage by such notch S. Should, however, the operator inadvertently attempt to move the switch slowly vfroml one position to the other position, the movable member 7 would immediately snap down ward when the notch S comes into engagement with the operating member V21 and would thereby arrest the motion of the switch.

When this device functions as a lock off, thc member ll is rocked about its pivotal point around in the position shown in Fig. 2 and a suitable padlock or other means serves to lock this auxiliary member ll, to the movable member Z and thereby locks suoli a movable member 7 in engagement with the operating member V2 and locks the switch in neutral position.

It will readily be seen from the above that applicant has provided a very simple device which has a number of desirable liun'ctions, such as enumerated above, and that this device when operating as a center stop may be readily manually released thereafter alloving the switch to be operated as de sire I claim l. The combination with a double throw quick break switch of a. center stop therefor comprising a fixed plate anda movable notched plate mounted thereon to swing rabout an axis in substantially the plane ol `notched plate and adapted to lock said notched plate in engagement with a portion of vthe n'iovablefpart of said switch when in neutral position.

3. A center stop for double throw switches having an operating member, comprising a lixed plate, a movable notched plate mounted thereon to swing about an axis in substantially the plane of the lirst plate, and means tending to normally place said notched plate in a definite position.

el. A center stop for double throw switches having` an operating member, comprising a ixed plate, a movable notched plate mounted thereon tojswing about an axis in substantially the plane of the first plate, and a plate mounted on the notched plate for closing the notch.

l v5. A. center stop for dofuble throw switches having an operating member, comprising a fixed plate, a movable notched plate mount ed thereon to swing about an axis in substantially the plane ol the first plate, and a plate mounted on the notched plate for closing the notch, said two movable plates hav- ,ing alining openings whereby theoperating member may be locked in the notch.

6. The combination with the wall of a switch inclosure and switch operating meinber projecting through said wall and mounted to oscillato about an axis perpendicular thereto, a portion oi said member being at right anglesto its axis, oi a center stop for said member comprising two plates hinged together, one plate being fastened to the wall and the other normally projecting per pendicularly to the wall, said last mentioned plate having a notch engageable with the portion of the operating member.

7. The combination with the wall of a switch inclosure and switch operating member projecting through said wall and mounted to oscillate about an axis perpendicular thereto, a portion of said member being at right angles to its axis, of a center stop for said member comprising two plates hinged together, one plate being fastened to the wall and the other normally projecting perpendicularly to the wall, said lastmentioned plate having a notch engageable with the portion ofthe operating member, and a plate mounted on the notched plate Jfor closing the notch.

8. The combination with the Wall of a switch inclosure and switch operating membei' projecting' through said Wall and mounted to oscillate about an axisperpendicular thereto, a portion ot said member being at right angles to' its axis, of a center stop for said member comprising tivo plates hinged together, one plate being' fastened to the Wall and the other normally projecting perpendicularly to the Wall, said last mentioned plate having a notch engageable with the portion of the operating member, and a plate mounted on the notched plate for closingthe notch, said two movable plates having alined openings whereby the operating member may be locked in the notch.

9. The combination with the Wall of a switch 'nclosure and switch operating member projecting through said wall and mounted to oscillate about an axis perpendicular thereto, a portion of said member being at right angles to its axis, of a center stop for said member comprising two plates hinged together, one plate being fastened to the Wall and the other normally projecting perpendicularlv to the Wall, said last mentioned plate having a notch engageab'le with the portion ot the operating' member, and yielding.,r means to hold the plate in such position.

BRYSON D. HORTON. 

